Manifest Destiny

Trends in Antebellum America: 1810-1860 New intellectual and religious movements. Social reforms. Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America. Re-emergence of a second party system and more political democratization. Increase in federal power  Marshall Ct. decisions. Increase in American nationalism. Further westward expansion.

“Manifest Destiny” First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845. ".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federative development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth." A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure emerged.

“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872

The Pony Express Between April, 1860 and Nov., 1861. Delivered news and mail between St. Louis, MO and San Francisco, CA. Took 10 days. Replaced by the completion of the trans-continental telegraph line.

Texas Independence (1836-1845)

Texas Declaration of Independence

Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836 Sam Houston (1793-1863) Steven Austin (1793-1836)

The Republic of Texas

Remember the Alamo!

The Battle of the Alamo

Overland Immigration to the West Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward.

The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869

Trails Westward

The Doomed Donner Party April, 1846 – April, 1847

The Doomed Donner Party CANNIBALISM ! ! Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived to get to California! James Reed & Wife

The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight! By the mid-1840s, “Oregon Fever” was spurred on by the promise of free land. The joint British-U. S. occupation ended in 1846.

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto “Old Rough and Ready”

Battle of Buena Vista (1847) General Winfield Scott

General Scott Enters Mexico City “Old Fuss and Feathers”

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848 Nicholas Trist, American Negotiator

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848 The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico! Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River. Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico. U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay the claims of American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).

Results of the Mexican War? The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+ American lives (mostly of disease). New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics. * Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX) These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and South. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President. Manifest Destiny partially realized.

Unresolved Issues & New Opportunities

Free Soil Party Free Soil! Free Speech! Free Labor! Free Men! WHY? “Barnburners” – discontented northern Democrats. Anti-slave members of the Liberty and Whig Parties. Opposition to the extension of slavery in the new territories! WHY?

The 1848 Presidential Election Results √

The Mexican Cession

GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848 John A. Sutter

California Gold Rush, 1849 49er’s

Digging for Gold in California

Two Views of San Francisco, Early 1850s By 1860, almost 300,000 people had traveled the Oregon & California Trails to the Pacific coast.

Territorial Growth to 1853

Westward the Course of Empire Emmanuel Leutze, 1860

Expansionist Young America in the 1850s America’s Attempted Raids into Latin America